Infrastructure projects 'must be continued'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government should continue with planned
\nlabor-intensive infrastructure projects despite the economic
\ncrisis to prevent more unemployment, an expert on urban issues
\nsaid yesterday.<\/p>\n
Urban and Regional Development Institute director BS.
\nKusbiantoro said rising unemployment due to the crisis would put
\nthe government in a difficult position later if adequate
\npreparations were not made now.<\/p>\n
\"Unemployment could damage what we have achieved over the past
\nyears and could even affect national stability,\" Kusbiantoro,
\nalso a professor at Bandung Institute of Technology, said.<\/p>\n
Going ahead with infrastructure projects would provide more
\njobs for casual workers and would prepare the country for when
\nthe economic situation returned to normal, he said.<\/p>\n
These projects could be road, water supply network, drainage,
\nwastewater treatment, water-catchment, irrigation and water canal
\nprojects.<\/p>\n
Kusbiantoro did not suggest an alternative funding source for
\nthe projects.<\/p>\n
He praised the Jakarta administration's plan to hire about
\n5,000 unskilled workers a month for its drainage system and river
\ndredging projects, dike and canal renovations, and other
\nprojects.<\/p>\n
Developing and renovating small houses, cheap apartments and
\nmarkets would have spinoff benefits for related industrial
\nsectors such as construction and housing, he said.<\/p>\n
He suggested that 14 hectares of unused land in Jakarta and
\nsurrounding areas, and some riverbanks should be managed by
\nfarmers.<\/p>\n
Private developers that have yet to use their land could
\ncooperate with the farmers until they were ready to develop their
\nland, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We should go ahead with efforts which would have multiplier
\neconomic effects.\"<\/p>\n
The government should also offer incentives, including tax
\nreductions, to private companies that develop labor intensive
\nprojects, he said.<\/p>\n
To prevent further unemployment, the city administrations
\nshould postpone evictions from their slums, he said.<\/p>\n
\"People now tend to be against evictions. It would only give
\nrise to dissatisfaction and protests.\"<\/p>\n
Kusbiantoro said all these ideas were implemented by the
\ngovernments of the United States, the Netherlands and Britain
\nduring their economic crises.<\/p>\n
\"The situations in those countries (before their recessions)
\nwere similar to that here before the crisis,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said transparent regulations and procedures, clean and
\ncompetent officials, and good government were needed to ensure
\nthe success of these efforts. (jun)<\/p>",
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